25122025-ATR-01.qxd 12/24/2025 10:56 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 17°C | MIN 8°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 10°C DIOCESE GIFTS HOPE TO THE FLOOD-HIT SMOKE FROM BHAGTANWALA DUMP A BURNING ISSUE SERENA CHEERS HER SISTER VENUS’ NUPTIALS The diocese distributed ration, furniture, bedding and study material among villagers in Ajnala and Ramdas belts. P2 Kids, pregnant women, elderly among most vulnerable, say docs, as health crisis looms over residents. P3 Serena Williams celebrated her sister Venus’ marriage to actor Andrea Preti during the wedding in Palm Beach. P4 » » » SUNSET THURSDAY 5.29 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 7.17AM THURSDAY | 25 DECEMBER 2025 | AMRITSAR Firing incident getting politicised: Improvement Trust ex-chairman Merry Christmas Tribune News Service St Mary’s Catholic Church is illuminated ahead of Christmas in Amritsar on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR AAP dist president, garments trader get extortion threats Tribune Reporters Tarn Taran/Amritsar, Dec 24 Gurwinder Singh Beharwal, district president of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Chairman of the local District Planning Committee, has received an extortion call worth Rs 50 lakh by the notorious gangster Prabh Dasuwal. The gangster has also allegedly threatened to kill him in case he refuses to oblige. The victim, in his statement to Khalra police, said he received a call from an unknown mobile phone number yesterday (Tuesday) in the evening and the caller identified himself as gangster Prabh Dasuwal and demanded and extortion money of Rs 50 lakh from him. The caller warned him to be ready to face the consequences in case he refused. Gurwinder Singh Beharwal has been given police Beharwal told the police he has received an extortion call for ~50 lakh from notorious gangster Prabh Dasuwal, who allegedly threatened to kill him protection. The Khalra police have registered a case under section 308 (2) and 351 (2) of BNS and have started further investigations. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Lamba said several cases have been registered against gangster Prabh Dasuwal for extortion, murder, attempt to murder etc. Many cases have been registered against him in other districts too, said the police. Meanwhile, the Amritsar police have registered a case of extortion and criminal intimidation after a local ready-made garment trader alleged that he and his family were threatened with dire consequences if ransom was not paid. According to the police complaint, Gurvir Singh, a resident of Mata Rani Mandir, Jandiala Guru, stated that he runs Fox Collection ready-made garments shop located opposite Jain Hospital. He alleged that on December 11, when he was present at his shop, he received a WhatsApp call on his mobile phone from an international number. The caller, whose identity remains unknown, allegedly mentioned details related to Gurvir's business and demanded Rs 20 lakh as extortion money. The complainant said he did not take the call seriously and disconnected it. However, shortly thereafter, another WhatsApp call and repeated messages were received from a different foreign number, reiterating the demand for Rs 20 lakh. The complainant further alleged that the caller threatened him and his family with serious consequences, including threats to life, if the demanded amount was not paid. Taking cognisance of the complaint, the police have registered a case under Sections 308(4) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). An investigation has been initiated to trace the accused and ascertain the origin of the foreign calls. Police officials said efforts are on to identify the suspects involved in the extortion attempt and assured that strict action will be taken against those responsible. Amritsar, December 24 Former Improvement Trust Chairman Dinesh Bassi on Wednesday alleged that the recent firing incident at Imperial City is being deliberately given a political colour by his opponents. Addressing a press conference here, Bassi said that the issue is being distorted to malign him and his family without any concrete evidence. It is noteworthy that Aishdeep Singh sustained a gunshot injury on Sunday night, triggering tension in the area. The victim's family alleged that the firing was carried out by the son of Dinesh Bassi along with his associates. Acting on the complaint, the Cantonment police registered a case against Vansh Bassi of Holy City, Harinder Singh of Chetanpura and Kunal. Dinesh Bassi said that the family of the injured youth had earlier levelled allegations without any proof, targeting him. Bassi categorically clarified that neither he nor his son was present at the spot at the time of the incident. Demanding a fair and impartial investigation, Bassi urged the police to verify his son's location on Bid to malign; myself and son not present on spot: Bassi Congress leader Dinesh Bassi addressing mediapersons in Amritsar on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO the day of the incident through CCTV footage, technical evidence and other records. Bassi claimed that he possesses videos of the complainant's son allegedly roaming outside a school with weapons and brutally assaulting a sarpanch's son. He alleged that during the incident, the victim's turban was removed, which he described as a grave insult to the Sikh identity. Appealing to the Akal Takht, Bassi sought a thorough Two arrested with Glock pistol, heroin Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, December 24 A team from the local CIA staff arrested two smugglers from the Mari Megha village area on Tuesday night. The smugglers reportedly had links with smugglers across the border. The suspects have been identified as Rahul, a resident of Main Street, Ekta Nagar, Chamrang Road, Amritsar, and Yuvrajbir Singh, a resident of East Gobind Nagar, Sultanwind Road, Amritsar. The police team led by ASI Kartar Singh was on routine patrol in the border area when it saw two motorcycleborne suspects and stopped them. The police team conducted a checking on them and recovered 50 grams of heroin, a foreign-made Glock pistol with magazine, two cartridges, cash worth Rs 4,500 in drug money and two mobiles from their possession. The police team also seized their 00motorcycle and took it in their custody. The Khalra police have registered a case under section 27 (a), 29, 61, 85 of the NDPS Act and section 25(6), 25 (7), (1) and 25 (8) of the Arms Act. inquiry into the turban-related incident and strict action against those found guilty. Bassi remarked that earlier, the name of AAP leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal was being dragged into the controversy, now his name is being taken, and tomorrow, someone else's name will surface. "This is a conspiracy to hide truth," he said, reiterating his demand for an impartial police probe. Several councillors and political leaders, including councillor Vikas Soni, were present at the press conference. They unanimously stated that injustice to any innocent person would not be tolerated and expressed solidarity with Dinesh Bassi and his son. They appealed to the police to conduct a fair investigation and ensure justice for the innocent. The leaders also warned that if innocent persons are not extricated from the case within two to three days, they would be compelled to take to the streets in protest. Man consumes poison due to marital discord, dies by suicide Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, December 24 A man perturbed over discord in marital life, consumed some poisonous substance at Bhail Dhae Wala village falling under Goindwal Sahib. Police informed here today that the deceased has been identified as Sukhchain Singh (29), a resident of Alowal under Mallanwala police station in Ferozepur district. Sukhchain Singh was married to Ranjit Kaur three years back and the couple has a twoyear-old daughter. Ranjit Kaur came to her parents’ place a week back in Bhail Dhae Wala, Tarn Taran district. Sukhchain Singh came on December 22 to take her back. Police said that his wife Ranjit Kaur and other members of her parental family insulted him. Disturbed, consumed a poisonous substance and committed suicide. Sukhchain Singh was admitted to a hospital in Fatehbad. The sarpanch of Bhail Dhae Wala informed his parents who came and took to a private hospital him to Afarke town where he died on Tuesday. Goindwal Sahib police have registered a case under section 108 of BNS against Ranjit Kaur, wife of the deceased. GNDU gets its radio station, TV studio I-ABC explores trade potential with Kabul, meets airport director Neha Saini Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 24 Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) now has its own TV studio and radio station, marking the realisation of the long-cherished vision of the Department of Mass Communications. Vice-chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh inaugurated a fully functional community radio station, 'GNDU Raabta 89.6 FM', at the Department of Mass Communication today and recorded a podcast and message for the student community at the university. Head of the Department, Prof Vasudha Sambyal, along with faculty members and students, cheered as the radio station and TV station would now offer students of communication a chance to learn the basics of podcasting, radio and television production. Prof Sambyal said, "The community radio station and TV studio, which is steadily progressing towards full recording and production functionality, will significant- Amritsar, December 24 The Indo-Afghan Business Commission (I-ABC), set up by CII Amritsar zone, has been actively espousing the cause of trade with Afghanistan since it was set up towards the end of last month. The team met with Airport Director Bhupinder Singh and his full cargo handling team and the wide interaction dwelt on issues related to expansion and smooth clearances of cargo -inbound and outbound, unperishable and farm produce, and initiated solutions. Gunbir Singh, former CII Amritsar Chair, stated that only 10 per cent of cargo capacity is presently being utilised. "Against 80 MT per day cold chain capacity of perishable cargo, only 1,200 kg was utilised up to now this month. Similarly, unperishable 50 MT of imports and similar daily capacity for exports is largely utilised. Traders and exporters are Guru Nanak Dev University Vice-Chancellor Karamjeet Singh inaugurated a fully functional community radio station, ‘GNDU Raabta 89.6 FM’, at the Department of Mass Communication in Amritsar on Wednesday. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR ly enhance practical training, experiential learning and professional preparedness of students in media and communication studies." "Community radio and tele- vision studio will serve as living laboratories for our students. They will not only strengthen professional skills but also connect the university with society by giving voice to local issues, culture and aspirations. Such platforms prepare our students to become socially responsible and industry- c m y b ready media professionals," said the vice-chancellor. He further added that these initiatives are fully aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises experiential learning, skill development and greater integration between academics and realworld practice. Members of the Indo-Afghan Business Commission at a meeting with the SGRDI Airport Director on Wednesday. VISHAL KUMAR unaware about cargo facilities and storage at the airport, limiting its utility," he said. He informed that a focused meeting of trade, agriculturists and industry with civil aviation, customs and global thought leaders shall be held during the CII Amritsar Zonal Council meet on January 5, 2026 to realise economic potential under the circumstances of a curtailed trade across the Wagah land axis. Davinder Singh, Chairman, CII Amritsar Zonal Council, further added, "We shall seek support from state and the union governments to fructi- fy the opportunity of IndoAfghan trade, from and to Amritsar, as desired by the Afghan delegation to Delhi last month. There are issues that need to be resolved and the benefits shall accrue to wider destinations as well." Gunbir Singh said there is scope for more wide-bodied aircraft with more destinations added to the airport which is missing earlier connections to Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, apart from Canada and Russia," he said. Singh was accompanied by Kapil Mehra, co-chair of the CII Zonal Council.